About Us

Meet The Family

Every Geraldi child is unique. Each has their own hobbies and distinguishing characteristics. Most have a number of physical and mental challenges, in addition to Down syndrome. And yet together, they have thrived. They went to school. They went to prom. They’ve even auditioned for America’s Got Talent. And now, they serve a bigger purpose—training dogs to be companions and police canines—helping others in need.

TiffanyBirthday: July 6, 1986Hobbies: Singing, dancing and listening to the Jonas BrothersChallenges: Down syndrome, hypotonic (low muscle tone), cardiac issues and slurred speech. Tiffany had emergency heart surgery when she was 1 year old.Claim to Fame: Tiffany stars as Sandy in the family production of Grease. She also took care of Camille when she had surgery. She’s friendly and outgoing and loves to hold hands.

ChampBirthday: May 3, 1987Hobbies: Playing guitar and helping mommy with anything she needsChallenges: Down syndrome and Cretanism, a genetic disorder that affects the brainClaim to Fame: Champ stars as Danny in the family production of Grease, and trains dogs to go on search and rescue and drug detection missions. He is proud to have his own cell phone and keeps the number written down in his wallet, sharing it only with those whom he likes best.

Karley SueBirthday: February 8, 1988Hobbies: Reading, writing and watching Lizzie Maguire on the Disney channelChallenges: Down syndrome, extreme anxiety disorder, Multiple Personality Disorder, defiance and stubbornness. Her dominant personality has Down, the others don’t. She requires one-on-one supervision.Claim to Fame: One of the smartest Geraldi children, Karley Sue enjoys training dogs to be companions—she loves repetition—and to go on search and rescue missions.

AdelleBirthday: July 3, 1988Hobbies: Talking! And drawing on the Magnadoodle.Challenges: Down syndrome and severe cardiac problems. She has a pacemaker and a defibrillator and was one of the youngest people in the country to have a St. Jude’s valve put in.Claim to Fame: Adelle has been known to tell people, “I have Down syndrome with an attitude.” She is very animated, has clear speech and is a social butterfly, as well as a great artist. She’s also very good at training the dogs.

AngelicaBirthday: July 18, 1988Hobbies: Coloring and dancing and watching High School Musical 3Challenges: Down syndrome, very severe cardiac issues, behavior problems and incontinence. She doesn’t have an anus and had a colostomy for the first four years of her life.Claim to Fame: Jo-Layne is affectionately called “Jo Pain” by her family.

Jo-LayneBirthday: August 27, 1992Hobbies: Singing, dancing, listening to music and writing in notebooks.Challenges: Severe cardiac issues and hip dysplasia. Her hips have been repaired twice and she was in a body cast for a year and a half. She will eventually be wheelchair bound.Claim to Fame: Angelica loves purses—she has one for every outfit.

CarmelloBirthday: July 3, 1993Hobbies: Drawing on the MagnadoodleChallenges: Down syndrome, limited awareness and communication, and cardiac, respiratory and neurological problems. Carmello’s neurological issues have increased as an adult and he now needs constant supervision.Claim to Fame: Carmello loves listening to music on his Discman—he almost always has headphones on.

SophieBirthday: October 17, 1994Hobbies: Playing with the Etch-a-Sketch and coloring, coloring, coloring!Challenges: Bronchial pulmonary dysplasia, severe asthma and other respiratory issues. Due to hip problems, she will eventually be wheelchair bound.Claim to Fame: Sophie and Carmello came to the Geraldis around the same time. They were both blond, blue-eyed and about the same age and size, so many people mistake them for twins.

JacksonBirthday: December 28, 1994Hobbies: Playing guitar, singing and dancing, as well as playing football and basketballChallenges: Obsessive Defiant Disorder. Jackson has serious behavior issues.Claim to Fame: Jackson loves to talk. He performs the basic dog training, and when focused, he’s very good at it.

IsabellaBirthday: December 24, 2008Hobbies: SingingChallenges: Born cocaine-addicted and was blind and deaf for the first seven months of her life. She doesn’t like to eat and has to be fed PediaSure. She is extremely underweight.Claim to Fame: Isabella is the baby of the family and loves the attention of her brothers and sisters. She’s extremely sweet and will happily settle into the lap of anyone who befriends her.

AdamBirthday: August 4, 1992Hobbies: MusicChallenges: Legally blind and deaf, Adam has microcephally (small head with reduced brain power) and a profound mental handicap. He is non-verbal and non-ambulatory.Claim to Fame: Adam “walks” around the block in his wheelchair to soak up the sun.

DarleneBirthday: March 7, 1986Hobbies: Swinging on the jungle gym in the backyard and going to the parkChallenges: Down syndrome, profound mental handicap, non-verbal and legally deafClaim to Fame: Darlene enjoys going on walks around the neighborhood (with supervision, of course).

Dorothy WilliamsBirthday: August 12, 1948Hobbies: Listening to music, eating and sitting outside in the sunChallenges: Mental retardation and seizure disorder. Dorothy had a left cerebral stroke and is non-ambulatory.Claim to Fame: “Mama D,” as she’s called, is known around the house for watching trashy TV.

HannahBirthday: December 14, 1998Hobbies: Playing in the pool, dancing and watching Disney moviesChallenges: Down syndrome with autistic tendencies, profound mental handicap and a propensity to hurt herselfClaim to Fame: Hannah enjoys assisting with grocery shopping and embracing her surroundings wherever she goes.

Jo-AnnBirthday: January 21, 1966Hobbies: Arts and crafts, word puzzles, shopping and dancingChallenges: Down syndrome, early onset Alzheimer’sClaim to Fame: Jo-Ann likes to help around the house and assist with grocery shopping.

KyleBirthday: June 12, 1989Hobbies: Playing board games, listening to music, and going to sporting events and moviesChallenges: 9P minus syndrome, hydrocephaly (water on the brain), impulse control disorder with aggression and mental retardationClaim to Fame: Kyle is a huge Miami Heat fan. He can be shy at times and confident and outgoing at others. He can be incredibly loyal and loving.

LarryBirthday: August 25, 1986Hobbies: Dancing, playing basketball and watching the Miami HeatChallenges: Down syndrome and asthmaClaim to Fame: Larry’s favorite activity is going to the movie theater. He also loves to eat.

Lola-AnnBirthday: October 8, 2002Hobbies: Dancing, arts and crafts, and playing with dollsChallenges: Down syndrome, A.D.H.D., impulse control disorder, aggression, psychotic disorder and PICA (a condition in which people try to eat and drink all kinds of objects)Claim to Fame: Lola-Ann is rarely spotted without her Elmo stuffed animal by her side.

Le AnneBirthday: October 25, 1960Hobbies: Dancing, listening to music, shopping and playing word gamesChallenges: Down syndrome, seizure disorder and early onset Alzheimer’sClaim to Fame: Le Anne simply loves to eat.

MariahBirthday: April 2, 1986Hobbies: Cooking, dancing, arts and crafts and listening to musicChallenges: Down syndromeClaim to Fame: Mariah has a boyfriend and loves to go on dates. She’s very outgoing.

MaritailBirthday: December 4, 1992Hobbies: Listening to music, dancing and going to sporting events, especially basketballChallenges: Mental retardation, depression and A.D.H.D. He received a liver transplant in 2009 and currently experiences a number of additional medical issues because of it.Claim to Fame: Maritail is known for two things: spending time with his older sister Renee and watching basketball.

MichaelBirthday: August 19, 1991Hobbies: Playing ball outside, walking around the block and fiddling around with musical toys.Challenges: Down syndrome, cardiac issues, asthma, A.D.H.D., impulse control disorder, aggression, psychotic disorder and a tendency to hurt himself.Claim to Fame: Michael loves going out to eat.

PedroBirthday: November 6, 1984Hobbies: Spending time with family, watching TV and soaking up the sunChallenges: Profound mental handicap and seizure disorder. Pedro is non-verbal and has a tendency to hurt himself.Claim to Fame: A family man, Pedro can always be counted on to spend time with his parents, brothers and sisters.

SethBirthday: April 16, 1988Hobbies: Playing poker and basketball, and going to sporting events and movies. Seth is very shy.Challenges: Down syndrome. He rarely speaks.Claim to Fame: Seth lives for basketball. Go Miami Heat!

ServianoBirthday: October 27, 1972Hobbies: Playing basketball, dancing, watching movies and doing arts and crafts projectsChallenges: Down syndromeClaim to Fame: Serviano is known for helping out around the house.

TimothyBirthday: August 14, 1979Hobbies: Listening to music, going to the park and rooting for the Miami HeatChallenges: Cerebral palsy, mental retardation and spastic quadriplegia. He is non-verbal and non-ambulatory.Claim to Fame: He really enjoys the freedom of riding around in his power wheelchair and takes advantage of it often.

WoodyBirthday: July 26, 1987Hobbies: Playing in the pool and with musical and/or soft, fluffy toysChallenges: Down syndrome, seizure disorder, profound mental handicap, impulse control disorder, aggression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and a tendency to hurt himselfClaim to Fame: Woody enjoys long rides in the car.